Aline Nassif

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HE may not be very tall in stature but six-year-old Callum Clarke has an enormous heart.

The talented motorcyclist who competes on his KTM 50 bike with his team, The Portsmouth Schoolboys, is now racing off the tracks to raise £3,000 for a children’s cancer unit.

Callum is furiously fundraising ahead of the Motocross Charity Challenge Cup race in Winchester on October 2 where he is also eyeing up the winner’s trophy. The youngster, who attends Locks Heath Infants School, said: ‘I love racing and I hope I can use that to make a difference.

‘I’m going to do whatever it takes to raise money to give to the unit to make people better.

‘I’ve been asking my neighbours, my relatives, my school and businesses to support me.

‘I’ve already raised £150 in sponsorship and I’d like to aim for £3,000. I think I can do it but I need support from as many people as possible.’

The children’s cancer unit which Callum is supporting is the Piam Brown Ward at Southampton General Hospital. The ward is sponsored by the Motocross Challenge.

When Callum learned that the younger brother of one of his friends was treated at the unit before he died, he decided to do more than just pay a charitable £35 subscription to take part in the race.

He contacted the hospital where staff gave him wristbands and key-rings to sell.

And on Thursday he will be taking his biking gear into school to do a presentation and take collections in a charity bucket.

The enterprising youngster has also approached local businesses including Biking Garages in Hedge End and Poundland in Fareham to sponsor him.

Callum, of Titchfield Common, Fareham, said: ‘When I heard about my friend’s brother who didn’t make it I felt I had to do something.

‘I wasn’t happy just paying a small fee to compete, I wanted to make a huge donation.

‘The cancer unit deserves a lot of help because it does a great job.’

Proud mum-of-four Claire Lewis, 32, said she was backing her son all the way.

‘Callum has always been very caring and loving and he worries about people,’ she said. ‘He always wants to help children who are in need and even in nursery he was always on the lookout for the vulnerable children to make sure they were okay.

‘He’s now got to the age where he understands things, and when we explained what the cancer unit was all about he understood and he told me “I can do something about it”. We’re so proud of him.’

Anyone who would like to sponsor Callum should visit justgiving.com/ callumclarke.